News & Announcements

The New York Times Best-Selling Authors of the Nanny Diaries to Conduct Writing Workshop and Book Signing for Newest Novel at Centenary College on December 3, 2013

10/09/2013, 10:03 AM

Hackettstown, N.J. – The New York Times best-selling authors of The Nanny Diaries, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, will be returning to Centenary College for the fourth time to conduct a writing workshop at 6 p.m. December 3, 2013, at the Taylor Memorial Library. This event is funded in part by the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Commission and is free and open to the public.

In addition, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus will be conducting a reading from their newest novel, The First Affair, at 7:30 p.m. also in the Taylor Memorial Library. Free light refreshments will be available for writing workshop attendees. Refreshments will be available for purchase at the Greene’s Beans Café at the Taylor Memorial Library for those who are attending the signing.

“We are so fortunate that Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have become friends of the College, as it is the fourth time that they have done a book signing in recent years,” says Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, President of Centenary College. “It is so exciting to have them return and to open this event to members of the community who know and love their work.”

McLaughlin and Kraus will cover their own journey with writing and publishing, as well as read from their new novel. They will also discuss how they came to write The Nanny Diaries, which was declared a “phenomenon” by Newsweek, as well as what inspired them to continue the heroine’s story in Nanny Returns. Those who sign up for the writing workshop will have the opportunity to receive more in-depth insight from the authors on the writing process.

The Nanny Diaries is a New York Times best-seller and the longest-running hardcover best-seller of 2002. It went on to become a major motion picture staring Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney and Alicia Keys. McLaughlin and Kraus’ follow-up novels, Citizen Girl and Dedication, were also New York Times best-sellers.

McLaughlin and Kraus have appeared numerous times on CNN, MSNBC, The Today Show, Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight and The View. Their work and partnership have been covered in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, TIME, Elle, Town & Country and Harper’s Bazaar.

They have contributed to the London Times and the New York Times, as well as two short story collections to benefit the War Child Fund: Big Night Out and Girls’ Night Out. In addition to writing for television and film, they travel around the country speaking to women and teens about gender issues in American corporate culture.

The First Affair is about Jamie McAlister, a recent college graduate who lands an internship at the White House. An unexpected encounter with President Gregory Rutland seems like just a fleeting flirtation, but as he orchestrates clandestine meetings and late-night phone calls, their relationship quickly escalates.

When the conflicted desires of the most powerful man in the world driving her to the breaking point, Jamie cannot help but divulge intimate details to those closest to her and soon finds herself, and everyone she cares about, facing calculated public destruction at the hands of Greg’s political enemies, and – perhaps no matter how much he cares about her – at the hands of Greg himself.

“It is such a wonderful opportunity to work with these distinguished authors again,” says Dr. Chris Adamo, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the English and Foreign Languages Department at Centenary College. “They have provided our students with members of the community with such valuable insight about the art of writing and their own collaborative efforts, that it has been such a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to having them here on campus again next month.”

Books are available for purchase that evening. If you are interested in attending the book signing, please R.S.V.P. to (908) 852-1400, ext. 2238. If you would like to participate in the writing workshop, please call (908) 852-1400, ext. 2021, or e-mail adamoc@centenarycollege.edu to pre-register. Accommodations and services for these events can be made through Dr. Adamo. Space is limited for the workshop.

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary College’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The Centenary College School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey. The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad.